The Hedge Wizard

“So, any ideas?”

Hump was holding one of the lich’s books in his hands, standing in the library contained within what had once been her phylactery. Walt had spent the last few weeks combing through them for the ones that looked most interesting, piling up the selection on the table. There were fourteen books of various sizes, all of them with what appeared to be spell formations contained inside.

“How should I know?” Walt asked. “You’re the wizard. Can’t you like, magic it out, or something?”

Hump glared at his strange companion. He was supposed to be a former house deity, but the more Hump got to know him, the more that sounded like an exaggeration. He was a small creature with purple skin and strangely wide eyes, with a jaw far too big for his face.

Walt appeared affronted, leaning away from Hump. “What’s with that look?”

“I’m just wondering how someone that’s supposed to be a deity can be this useless!”

“Hey! That’s rude. Look how nice I got this place looking.”

Hump glanced around the entry room of the lich’s library. The strange webs of essence were gone, the dust cleared up, and the books neatly put away in their shelves. “You’re right, you’re a fantastic cleaner.”

“If you’re going to be snarky I’m going back to sleep and we can sort this out another day.”

Hump laughed. “Alright, fine. I have a few ideas.”

The most obvious thing to do was envision himself leaving the library with the spellbook in hand. It was his consciousness that entered the dimensional space, not his actual body, which made it particularly difficult to envision how the spellbook would actually leave the phylactery. But the lich queen had to get the books inside somehow.

Looking around, Hump’s eyes found the doors of the library.

Is it really that obvious?

He walked toward them.

“What are you doing?” Walt asked.

“This place was created using magic,” Hump said. “Which means, most likely the lich accounted for this. How would one usually take a book out of a library?”

“Through the doors.”

Hump nodded, stepping over the threshold. Suddenly, cold gripped him. Essence was dragged from his soul before he could do anything to resist. He was swimming in something thick and heavy, the library gone from his vision and replaced by darkness. More essence surged from him, pushing him through the sludge until he burst free of the abyss.

Opening his eyes, Hump was back in the living room of his manor. He stared down at his hands, cheering internally at the sight of the ancient book within.

It worked. Shame it felt like he’d just fought a war—a feeling he was familiar with—but he’d managed to bring the book out with him.

“Are you back?” Celaine asked.

“Yep.” Hump held the book up victoriously. “Seems I’ve figured it out. Just taking out the one book was enough to almost entirely drain me of essence though. It’s going to be a slow process, Vivi.”

Vivienne’s eyes were fixed on the book. “This is anything but a slow process. Can I see it?”

Hump passed the book to her, and she opened it carefully, as if it were the most valuable thing in the world.

“You have no idea just how valuable this is, or how dangerous. The Pantheon cannot know what it is you have access to—if they were to find out… they would destroy it, and they’d destroy you.”

“Don’t worry. I didn’t plan on spreading it around..”

“It’s not too bad,” Celaine said. “You already have secrets the Pantheon would kill you over, what’s one more?”

“Brilliant.”

“I would like to involve Graham, however,” Vivienne said. “He will be as interested in this discovery as I, and much help.”

“You trust him?” Hump asked.

“I do.”

“Then go for it.” The researcher had played a key role in the battle against the warlocks and he and Vivienne were clearly close. If she trusted him, that would be fine. “I’ll try to take as many books from the library as I can before we leave Sheercliff City. I can’t see myself managing more than one a day at such a cost in essence though.”

“You’ve made up your mind about leaving then,” Vivienne said.

Hump nodded. “We want to join up with Bud, Dylan, and Emilia. Sheercliff was always just a stop on the way.”

“I expected as much. You should speak to Marcela and discuss the plans with her too. She will be returning to the Fallen Lands in the coming weeks and would be a good ally for you when the time comes.”

“She mentioned she would be returning soon,” Celaine said.

“The details are still being kept quiet,” Vivienne said. “After her previous injuries, there was much rumour about what would happen to her. If you want, I can pass on a message for her that you’d like to speak with her.”

“Please do,” Hump said.

“What do you intend to do in the meantime?” Vivienne asked. “Prepare?”

“I need some new equipment,” Hump said. “We have money now so artifacts are obvious. Potions and other single use items too.”

“I want new armour,” Celaine said. “My powers are leaning more and more toward the use of shadow. I’d like my equipment to reflect that.”

“You should speak with Isaac about your equipment,” Vivienne said to both of them. “He may be able to help you both to procure some of the better equipment in the city.”

“Do you think he’d be better than the enchantery?” Hump asked.

“Most definitely. The type of items you’re after now are found few and far between. It takes someone as well connected as Sir Isaac to find such things.”

“We’ll speak to him,” Hump said. “Afterward, I was going to go to the Wizard’s Society and see what they have to offer.”

“Not alone you won’t,” Celaine said. “I didn’t trust that man.”

“Wizard Lindle?”

She nodded. “He wanted something. People like that are never up to any good.”

“I can’t say I disagree,” Vivienne said. “You’ve become quite the focal point in Sheercliff, especially amongst the wizards. Lindle has already spoken with Justine about bringing you into their ranks properly.”

“What do you mean?” Hump asked. “I’m already a member of the Wizard’s Society.”

“You are a member in name, but you are not in the inner circle. I suspect Lindle intends to invite you to officially join, and perhaps even enrol you in the Elenvine Academy.”

Hump paused at that. The same place the old man had studied, and the place where he’d first been betrayed and his soul damaged. “I would never join.”

“And nor should you. While I am sure an official education would help much with your training and reputation, what you have is irreplaceable, and you run the risk of your spellbook being discovered.”

“What do you suggest then?” Hump asked.

Vivienne leant back into her chair and a sly smile touched her lips. “Meet with him.” She shrugged. “See what he has to say. Show an interest, and take them for everything you can while the opportunity is there. I’m sure you want new spells, don’t you?”

Hump nodded.

“Where better to acquire them?”

***

The sight of so many people was overwhelming for Nisha. Excitement exploded through their bond as they made their way through the streets of the plateau, not helped by all the people that would stop to look at her as they walked. The arrival of Keeper Tessa and Igni was enough for word to spread that there were dragons in Sheercliff City, so at the very least, nobody would attack them on the streets.

When Hump entered the courtyard of Sheercliff Academy, he was relieved to be out of sight from prying nobles. He and Celaine took a moment to look around. Last time they’d been here, the academy had been under siege, and they’d been trying to figure out how to destroy the Tree of Damnation that had taken up residence in the main building. Now, no sign of battle remained. The building was fixed, the rubble cleared from the courtyard, and the blood cleaned from its stones.

Nobody stopped them as they made their way through the main building, quickly coming to Sir Isaac’s office where Hump tapped on the door.

“Enter.”

Stepping inside, Sir Isaac was at his desk, papers sprawled over it before him. Unlike the state of his desk, the man himself was a neat scholar. He appeared to be in his fifties, with blonde hair and a sharp face. His eyeglass lens was down over his eye, the runes gleaming as he studied what was before him. After a minute or so he looked up.

“Oh, Wizard Humphrey and Lady Celaine! I was hoping the two of you might visit.”

His eyes went wide as saucers as Nisha stepped in behind them, just as Hump intended. He’s seen how excited Sir Isaac had gotten over seeing Nisha in her egg all those months ago. If there was one way to catch the man’s interest, it was her.

“And you must be Nishari.” He stood, stepping around to the front of his desk and squatting down, a wide smile on his face. “It’s very nice to meet you properly.

Nisha stepped forward to inspect him. Curiosity. Excitement. Play.

Her tale waved gently from side to side, speeding up as she nudged Sir Isaac with her head and he started to pet her.

“We’re not intruding, are we?” Hump asked. “I wasn’t sure if I should send a letter.”

“Not at all. Not at all.” He looked up at Hump. “I see you’ve taken good care of my battlerobes. Good, good. That’s what we enchanters like to see. And how’s the staff, dear boy? Shaping it around the core of that bloody great tree was quite the task for Graham and me.”

The three of them spoke for a while. Hump told him a little of their adventures and how much he’d come to rely on the equipment Sir Isaac had crafted for him—there were no better enchanters in all of Alveron than a Chosen of Loften, and Sir Isaac was one of the best amongst them.

“So you’re looking for an upgrade, is that right?” Sir Isaac pressed a finger to the side of his eyeglasses before Hump could answer, the runes shifting in colour. He looked Hump up and down and nodded. “Yes, yes. Of course, you are. You’ve outgrown those robes.”

“This time, it’s both of us looking to upgrade,” Hump said. “We’re leaving for the Fallen Lands soon to join the rest of our party in Fort Nordric. Ideally, we’d both like the core of our equipment to be silver tier. And of course, we have the money to pay for it. I thought it best to come to you before we tried the enchanteries of the Lower City.”

Sir Isaac turned his eyeglasses on Celaine, shifting through the runic functions. “I see. Interesting, a dark essence user. It’s rare I see such a thing.” He stroked his chin. “Two complete silver tier ensembles are not something I have on hand, I’m afraid. But I suspect I will be able to find some items that will interest the both of you. Better than anything you’ll find in other enchanteries of Sheercliff, I assure you.”

“Whatever you can do would be brilliant,” Hump said. “Thank you.”

Sir Isaac shook his head. “You have nothing to thank me for. This city owes you a great debt. The least I can do is procure you proper equipment. Return to me in three days—my academy will be closed then. I will speak with a few of my contacts and see what I can procure.”

They talked a little more about the various pieces of equipment that the two of them needed, and what would be most useful to them. Hump wanted a storage item similar to Celaine’s Belt of Storage, gifted to her by Countess Daston. New battle robes, of course, and some actual professional boots rather than the shoddy job Hump had done making his own.

With that, the majority of their equipment was taken care of. There were still a few bits and pieces Hump wanted to find—potions, single use items, and other small bits and pieces. But that could wait. Lunch came first.

***

“I could get used to this,” Hump said.

After meeting with Sir Isaac, they’d found a small restaurant with a view of the city to have lunch. It was an interesting style of eating—many small dishes to pick and choose from, giving them a variety of tastes of the local cuisine.

“I couldn’t,” Celaine said. “They’re all looking at us.”

“I think you’ll find they’re all looking at Nisha,” Hump said, leaning down to pet the little creature struggling to sit patiently at his feet. “And for good reason. You’re absolutely adorable, aren’t you.”

She took the attention as a chance to stand up, climbing onto Hump’s lap with her front paws and sniffing at his face. Hungry. Food. Feed me.

“Can she eat these?” Hump asked, pointing at the plate of potatoes.

Celaine nodded.

Hump picked one up between his finger and thumb, trying to take a piece without any sauce. He held it up for Nishari who suddenly sat absolutely still, her posture perfection.

Celaine continued. “Don’t think she’d like them but—”

Nisha snapped up the potato, swallowing it in seconds and staring at Hump for more.

“—Nevermind,” Celaine finished.

Hump laughed. “My little Nisha will eat anything, isn’t that right.”

The dragon stared at him with wide purple eyes, pleading for more.

“That’s it for now though,” he said. “Lie back down and wait for us to finish. There will be lunch for you at home.”

Hump did his best to ignore the sounds of protest in his mind. Somehow, Nisha managed to convey being hungry even though she’d only eaten breakfast a couple of hours ago. If he let her, she’d never stop eating.

“That went well with Isaac,” Celaine said. “Vivienne was right about going to him.”

“Seems so. We’re going to need to sell some of those essence stones we brought with us, I expect. I can’t imagine anything he finds for us being cheap, and I’d like to pay for it properly.”

Celaine gawked at him, mouth falling open.

Hump narrowed his eyes. “What?”

“I just never thought you would suggest voluntarily paying for something.”

Hump rolled his eyes. “You’re hilarious.”

“I’m serious!”

“We can’t have people providing for us forever,” Hump said. “Not unless we pledge ourselves in someone’s service at least, and I don’t particularly feel like that.”

“You know that Countess Daston would take care of everything if we asked. She has the wealth to spare.”

“I’m sure she would, but at least for our basic equipment, it should be ours and ours alone. At least, in my opinion.”

Celaine smiled, and this time it actually looked sweet. “No, you’re right. It’s good for us to make our own way, and it’s not like we can’t.”

“Exactly!” Hump nodded exaggeratedly. “Besides, she owes us a favour. I’d rather not let her pay that back so easily.”

Celaine burst out laughing. “I knew it. Of course, you were scheming.”

“Not scheming—” Hump pierced another potato with a skewer and put it in his mouth. It was touched with a fatty, slightly spiced sauce. Mouth full, he said, “—just being smart about things.”

“Well, don’t bother being too smart. You gave her back use of her legs. I don’t think Countess Daston will ever feel like she’s returned enough favours.”